Small dessert is a healthier way to satisfy your Valentine’s sweet tooth

Love is always sweeter when expressed with chocolate. Especially on Valentine’s Day.

Yes, chocolate. And the more ooey-gooey deeply chocolaty, the better. Still, there’s no sense overdoing it. I’ve always believed when it comes to dessert, a little bit can go a long way. That’s why this chocolate dream of a recipe takes the form of small-ish individual cakes rather than a single, family-sized gut-buster.

It’s also why I’ve replaced the butter usually found in chocolate cakes with non-fat Greek yogurt. And trust me, not only won’t you miss the butter, but you won’t taste the yogurt. It’s in the mix strictly as a lower-fat way of adding body to the finished product.

What you will taste is chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate, specifically dark chocolate. It’s built into the cake batter, of course, but it also reappears as a melted surprise in the center of each cake.

Once you’re gazing with admiration at the finished product, don’t be surprised if you end up giving this little Valentine’s Day gift to yourself.

• Sara Moulton was executive chef at Gourmet magazine for nearly 25 years, and spent a decade hosting several Food Network shows. She has written three cookbooks, including “Everyday Family Dinners.”

Warm Double Chocolate Cakes With Raspberry Sauce

Start to finish: 3 hours 20 minutes (30 minutes active)

Servings: 8

For the chocolate cakes:

1/4 cup sugar, plus 8 teaspoons for coating the ramekins

4 1/2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, divided

2 large eggs, whites and yolks separated and brought to room temperature

Coat eight 1/3- or 1/4-cup ramekins with cooking spray. Sprinkle about 1 teaspoon of sugar into each, swirling it around to coat the bottom and sides, then dumping out any excess.

Finely chop 2 1/2 ounces of the chocolate. Cut the remaining 2 ounces into 16 pieces, roughly the same size, then set those aside.

Bring a small saucepan of water to a bare simmer. Set a medium stainless steel bowl over it and add the 2 1/2 ounces of finely chopped chocolate to that. Heat, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate is melted.

While the chocolate is melting, in another medium bowl use an electric mixer to beat the egg yolks with 1 tablespoon of the sugar until they are thick and lemon colored, about 4 minutes. Set the bowl aside and clean the beaters well.

In a third medium bowl, use the electric mixer to beat the egg whites until they form soft peaks. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar, a little at a time, and continue beating until the whites hold stiff peaks. Set aside.

Remove the melted chocolate from the heat. Add the yogurt and stir well. Add the egg yolk mixture and stir well. Add one third of the egg whites to the chocolate mixture, stirring well, then gently fold in the remaining egg whites until they are just combined with the chocolate mixture. Divide the batter among the prepared ramekins. Cover and chill for 1 hour.

While the cakes are chilling, heat the oven to 325 F and prepare the sauce.

In a blender, puree the raspberries with the sugar. Pour the mixture through a mesh strainer, using a silicone spatula to press the pulp. Discard the pulp and seeds. Thin the sauce with water or with the reserved raspberry liquid (if using frozen berries) until the sauce has a nice pouring consistency.

Remove the ramekins from the fridge, tuck 2 pieces of the cut chocolate into the center of each and bake in the middle of the oven for 15 to 18 minutes, or until just springy when touched. Let cool for 5 minutes, then unmold or serve in the ramekins. Serve drizzled with the raspberry sauce.